French Environment Minister Segolene Royal has announced plans for a series of joint projects with Tehran that are aimed at dealing with energy, water shortages, and pollution. Royal said on August 28 after talks with the head of Iran's Environmental Protection Organization, Massoumeh Ebtekar, that they had discussed the creation of several key partnerships by February 2017.

French and Iranian Environment Ministers Segolene Royal (L) and Massoumeh Ebtekar

The French minister is on a three-day visit to Iran.

Her entourage includes senior business figures from French environmental and renewable energy firms that specialize in water, pollution, and energy efficiency -- including the head of the French multinational electric utility firm Engie.

Ebtekar, who also is a vice president of Iran, said Royal's visit shows the importance of international cooperation on the environment.

On August 29, Royal is scheduled to visit Iran's largest saltwater lake, Orumiyeh, in northwestern Iran.

The UNESCO heritage site has lost 90 percent of its surface water during the past 20 years due to over-farming, dams, and climate change.